Report: Beal says Rose was ‘scared’

The Bulls’ season is over, but Derrick Rose continues to be criticized.

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Wizards rookie Bradley Beal told the Washington radio station 106.7 The Fan that he thought Derrick Rose was “scared” to return after sitting out the entire season and the playoffs recovering from knee surgery.

“He might have to give it a go,” Beal said. “If you’re practicing for two months, and then everybody in practice is saying you’re practicing well, I mean, I think you have to give it a shot in the game. Look at David Lee. You don’t have to play significant minutes, but the fact that you’re out there and that you’re actually giving it a go, I think people will respect that.”

Rose, who suffered a torn ACL and two meniscus tears during last year’s playoffs, was cleared by the team to play but never suited up for the Bulls, who lost to the Heat 4-1 in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Beal, who averaged 13.9 points last season, added that he would lose respect for a teammate who was in a similar situation to Rose.

“A little bit, yea I would,” Beal said. “Because I know the type of player he is, and the mentality and the competitiveness that he has, I think he would have gave it a go. I don’t know what was holding him back. I think he’s scared it’s probably going to happen again and he won’t be the same. But you’re never the same after an injury. But you just have to fight through it and do something else to be able to impact the game. I’m not sure what it is he has to do. I really can’t speak for him. …”